HIKING IN BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Welcome to Bigroads.com's guide to the hiking trails of Badlands National Park!
Badlands National Park boasts some of the most colorful rock formations & badlands in the United States. There are only a few official hiking trails to find here, but you are free to hike or backpack off-trail almost anywhere you want in the park. Budget yourself at least a full day to explore the trails & terrain of this special place.
Before you set out for a hike in Badlands National Parks, you should be aware of the following:
- Extremely hot days are very common from June through September (90+ degrees is very common).
- It is difficult (and sometimes dangerous) to hike here after it rains (the trails become extremely slippery).
- Start hiking early in the morning (i.e. 6:00-8:00am) to beat some of the summer heat.
- Thunderstorms can be common in summer, and there are no places to seek shelter.
- Watch out for rattlesnakes and keep your distance from other animals (bighorn sheep, buffalo, prairie dogs) in this national park.
- Hiking here in winter can be a snowy/icy affair; foot traction is often highly recommended (i.e. Microspikes); snowshoes are never needed.
- Always hike with at least 2 liters of water per person (the general rule is actually 1 liter per person per hour).
- There are some great off-trail hiking and backpacking opportunities in this national park.
EASY TRAILS
Presented below is an overview of all (relatively) EASY trails in Badlands National Park (listed in alphabetical order):
MODERATE TRAILS
Presented below is an overview of all MODERATE trails in Badlands National Park (listed in alphabetical order):
Badlands National Park trail map > link
TOP 5 DAY HIKES IN BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Here are my selections for the top 5 day hikes in Badlands National Park:
- Door Trail
- Notch Trail
- Castle Trail
- Saddle Pass
- Medicine Root Loop
BACKPACKING IN BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK
- Badlands National Park is a great place to experience a short one or perhaps two night backpacking trip, even though there are no official established trails.
- Most backpackers will set out from the Sage Creek primitive campground or the Sage Creek Basin Overlook and hike into the Sage Creek Wilderness Area (with the help of a map and/or GPS). However, you can essentially backpack just about anywhere you want in this national park, so long as you camp a specific distance from roads and developed trails, and your selected campsite is completely out of sight from all park roads. Another option for backpacking is by hiking a portion of the Castle Trail and then going off-trail from there in order to make sure you make the minimum distance requirements for setting up camp.
- As of 2016, no permits are required to backpack here, so all you have to do is show up to a Visitor Center and ask for some recommendations on where to go. When selecting a campsite, make sure you aren't in a dry wash (flash flooding is possible).
- More information on backpacking in Badlands National Park can be found here > link
MORE GREAT DAY HIKES NEARBY
There are several other great day hikes located within an hour or two of Badlands National Park, including:
- Black Elk Peak - this is the highpoint of South Dakota and you'll find a unique stone tower at the top; combine trails to also visit Little Devil's Tower; formerly known as Harney Peak; highly recommended
- Crow Peak - one of the best hikes in the Black Hills
- Devil's Bathtub - fun hike in Spearfish Canyon
- George S. Mickelson Trail - South Dakota's most famous rail trail
- Presidential Trail - this short walk is the best way to get up close to the faces of Mount Rushmore
RECOMMENDED MAPS & GUIDEBOOKS
There are only a few published maps & guidebooks that provide driving directions & trail information for hikes in Badlands National Park:
- Badlands National Park: South Dakota, USA Outdoor Recreation Map: > link
- Moon Mount Rushmore & the Black Hills: Including the Badlands > link
LEARN MORE ABOUT BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK
We highly recommend visiting these websites to learn more about Badlands National Park:
- NPS.gov's official Badlands National Park website > link
- Your Guide to the National Parks: The Complete Guide to 58 National Parks > link
- National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States, 8th Edition > link
Please send us an email (gparsons66@hotmail.com) if you discover that any of the above links are broken.
Yellow Mounds Overlook along Badlands Loop Road
climbing the ladder on the Notch Trail, Badlands National Park
typical Badlands National Park scenery
Prairie Dog in Badlands National Park
scenery near the Door Trail
the delicate crust found all over Badlands National Park
prairie meets badlands along the Badlands Loop Road
buffalo in Badlands National Park
off-trail near the Door Trail and Window Trail
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